Blast in Afghanistan kills Canadian soldier, injures 4
Last Updated: Sunday, December 30, 2007 | 11:50 AM ET
CBC News
One Canadian soldier was killed and four others were wounded when their armoured vehicle struck a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan on Sunday, military officials said.
The soldier who died has been identified as Gunner Jonathan Dion, 27, of Val-d'Or, Que., with the 5th Régiment d’artillerie légère du Canada, based in Valcartier, Que.
Jonathan Dion was a 27-year-old gunner from Val-d'Or, Que.
(DND)
The explosion occurred shortly after 9 a.m. local time as troops were on a routine patrol in Zhari district, about 20 kilometres west of Kandahar City.
All five soldiers were flown by helicopter to the Canadian-run hospital at Kandahar Air Field where Dion succumbed to his wounds, Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche told reporters.
The four soldiers who survived are said to have non-life-threatening injuries. One of them was released from hospital later on Sunday.
The TLAV is a heavily upgraded version of an M113 armoured personnel carrier that the Canadian Forces first acquired in the 1960s.
(James Cudmore/CBC)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement after the bombing.
"I am deeply saddened by the loss of Gunner Jonathan Dion," he said. "I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends during this very difficult time. I also wish a speedy recovery to the four other soldiers injured in this incident."
Wing Commander Antony McCord, Regional Command South spokesman, said in a statement, "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the soldier who was killed and those who were injured."
The soldiers were travelling in a Tracked Light Armoured Vehicle (TLAV), a modified version of the old M113 tracked vehicle, Laroche said.
He said these vehicles are "almost as good" as the newer LAVs (Light Armoured Vehicles). The incident could have happened to any vehicle and that choice of using the TLAV had nothing to do with the death and injuries on Sunday, Laroche added.
The latest casualties bring the number of Canadians killed in Afghanistan to 74 soldiers and one diplomat since the mission began in 2002.
